the Colors of Awareness Treasury

I curated another Awareness Treasury.  "The Colors of Awareness"

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=102974

Click here to read more!

Veteran's Quilt

 In early December I was looking through the Alchemy listings and came across one titled "Service Memebers Ideas".  I was intrigued for many reasons. First, I am married to a Veteran,  Second, my father is a veteran and last but not least, my two step-sons are currently serving in the military.

I soon found out that the owner of a a shop on Etsy, Ginksburg's Handmade Dresses, Quilts & Fashion Jewelry, intended to donate a Veteran's Quilt from her shop to a veteran.  I decided to see if I could win the Veteran's Quilt for my father.  I filled out the entry form and waited.

About a week later I was notified that I won.  I was so excited.  I didn't tell my Father about it, I decided to let it be a surprise.  

Here is a link to the shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ginksburg

He called me when he received the quilt.  He loved it!  The quilt had several insignia embroidered on it.  My step-mom remarked on how well-made it was.  

Unfortunately, I live about 20 miles away from them and I did not get a chance to see the quilt myself until Christmas.   And then I was surprised.  Look at the pictures of this quilt.  It is a wonderful momento, reminding us of all the men and women who have served this great country.

I did a little window shopping and I want to share some of the other treasures in this shop.

Gee, this one is one of my favorites:

and this one just makes me feel good:

this is so cute.  I wish I had a granddaughter:

this is the cutest apron:

Thank-you very much for this great quilt.   

Click here to read more!

Wishes

Wishing You and Your Family

A Merry Christmas and

A Happy Hanukkah.

Click here to read more!

Tis The Season Treasury by DCHStudio

I found out that  my Merry Christmas Cross Stitch was featured in a Treasury curated by DCHStudio.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=100755 Click here to read more!

Gabeadz

I was pleasantly surprised to see a post from a friend stating that she had a few rings to give away.  All that was necessary to claim one was to leave a comment on her blog.     http://gabeadz.blogspot.com/

 

I had recently purchased a beautiful ring from her for my step-daughter so I knew that I wanted a ring from her.  this is a picture of the ring I bought from her.

And this is the ring that I received:

If you would like to visit her shop and get your own beautiful ring, here is the link:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/gabeadz Click here to read more!

It IS Worth It!

It is difficult at times to keep your spirits up when you sell your creations.  There are so many little things that can bring you down.  

I don't know about everyone else but the actual creative process can get very frustrating.  There are many times where I just can't get the materials to do what I envision in my mind.  Or maybe I daydream while I am making something and have to go back and correct boo-boos.  Then there are the times when I get "writers block".   All the ideas just seem to leave my brain and I can't put 3 beads on the same string.

Once a piece is finished it can't be listed in the shop until I get good photographs.  Now there is a chore.  Jewelry is very difficult to photograph.  I have taken as many as 50 pictures of an item before I get a half-way presentable picture.

Now the item is listed and the wait is on.  Every day without a sale feels like a week.  You begin to question your creations, your photographs, your descriptions.  Sometimes it gets to the point that you question your ability.  I have even come close to closing my shop on two separate occasions..  

Both times, within a week of making the decision, I ended up having a great sales day.  The first time I sold a bracelet, realized I needed a bubble envelope and while I was at the store, I sold a pair of earrings.  Yeah!!! Happy Days!!

The second time I decided to close my shop was last Friday.  Today I sold a bracelet early in the day.  It is one of my favorite designs.  Then late this afternoon I sold 2 pair of earrings and a bracelet to one customer.  

You can't buy this feeling. But I sure wish I could bottle it and save it for those frustrating times.  Click here to read more!

New Treasury

I curated a Treasury today.  I happen to love penguins.  I think they are so cute.  But I couldn't find enough penguins to make the Treasury from one team.  so I combined the Tradeaholics and the Etsy Texas Crafters and the result -"Trade On Texas".

Click here to read more!

Etsy Texas Crafters First Monday Sale

My how time flies!!  A little over a month ago (seems like a week) I was invited to attend my first "First Monday Sale".  The Etsy Texas Crafters welcome their new members on the first Monday of each month.   

This month there are over 100 shops participating, including me.

This link will take you to the thread that lists all the shops and what each shop is offering for the sale.  I didn't get my entry in on time, so I am on page 5.  I am offering 15% off on all Christmas earrings and 20% off all hemp jewelry.

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6370411&page=1 Click here to read more!

Gift From...Texas Treasury

I have been included in a great Treasury curated by gabeadz.  The Treasury is "Gift From Texas".


Thank-you gabeadz for featuring me. 


http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=78080

Click here to read more!

I'm Growing Christmas Treasury (30-Minute Treasury)

I just curated a Treasury.  I was going to call it 30-Minute Treasury.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=77952

Click here to read more!

Treasury Alert

I was featured in a Treasury by Gabeadz.  Thanks for featuring my Green and Gold Memory Bracelet.

Click here to read more!

Etsy Texas Crafters 5th Monday CyberMonday Sale!

You know that Texans love to celebrate and that we celebrate anything and everything. So let's celebrate.


The Etsy Texas Crafters has a wonderful sale on the 5th Monday of each month.

Most months don’t have a fifth Monday. When a month does have a fifth Monday we celebrate with a $5.00 sale.

Now to add a little more excitement the 5th Monday of November is the end of the Black Friday Sale weekend.

Search using the tag "ETC5" for items that cost $5.00 or click on Armadillo Tex on the left side near the top.



Click here to read more!

Black Friday Site-Wide Sale on Etsy

Etsy is having a site-wide sale Friday, November 27, 2009 through Monday, November 30, 2009.

Use the tag "EtsyHolidaySale" to search for items on sale.

To get to my shop click on “Etsy Store” on the left side of the page along the top.
Click here to read more!

Pre Black Friday Sale

The Etsy Trade-a-Holics team is hosting a fantastic, pre-Black Friday $10 and under sale!

Starting this Friday, many shops will have items on sale for $10 and under!

Beat the holiday rush and snap up some great deals!

Use the tag "TRADE10" to search for sale items!

click on this link for a list of participating shops.

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6353840



Click here to read more!

Epilepsy Awareness An Interview With Adrian E

I have mentioned several times that November is Epilepsy Awareness Month.  In keeping with that theme, I have been working on some interviews.  I speak publicly to help spread Epilepsy Awareness and I will be interviewing friends who do the same thing.

I met Adrian E. for the first time in March 2006 in San Antonio, Texas.  Adrian has epilepsy and he is committed to helping others with epilepsy.

 

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month and I'm hoping this picture will kick up that awareness. No, I'm not injured. It's me in 1996 at UNM Albuquerque's Epilepsy Center getting an EEG for the MEG & MR Spect research study they were doing. My participation in that study went on to provide important information about a condition that over 3 million Americans live with.

What is the "MEG & MR Spect" research study?
The MEG and MR Spec were two studies; one using the Magnetoencephalogram (MEG) and the other using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MR Spec). It was performed at the University of New Mexico Albuquerque and done in 1996.

An EEG was performed prior to the MEG to get a baseline of my brain's activity. The EEG was an "all-day-all night" version but it was to look for spike anomalies and not actual seizures. There was no need to wean off my medications for any part of these studies.

MEG is a non-evasive, clean, and painless technique of measuring electrical activity in the brain without the use of electrodes like an EEG. The test involves the performing of an MRI prior to the MEG that is longer than a routine MRI (about 90 minutes vs 45 for a routine one). This is because very fine, well detailed images of the brain are needed. The images of the MRI are combined with the data from the MEG and form a 3D EEG (so to speak).

The MEG portion involves sitting in a special room where the subject can just dose off while a cylindrical object the size of a beer keg rests on the subject's scalp. Unlike the loud noise that anyone who has an MRI can attest to, the MEG is nearly silent and lasts about an hour or two.

MR Spec is used not to get a physical image of the brain, as an MRI would, but to gather a chemical composition of what the human brain is made up of. At this facility, the MR Spec looked larger than an MRI machine and, it turns out, much louder than an MRI. The test was about as long as a routine MRI, about an hour, but industrial grade earplugs were necessary to prevent hearing loss.

Do you know how your participation benefitted others?
It's been 13 years since these studies were performed but just three years ago, researchers in San Diego were testing a new use for the MEG. The Wada test is the standard by which memory and language functions are tested for people seeking epilepsy surgery. But the Wada has some serious risks, most notable being stroke and hemorrhage of the arteries below the brain. A new function of the MEG was being tested to see if it could possibly determine memory and language function of the patient without the risks that come with a Wada test. It looks like an alternative to the Wada could come in the next decade. (BTW, I participated in that San Diego study too.)

Was there a risk?
All in all, the risks involved were so minor; I had no problem participating in these studies.
 
Do you do anything else to help support Epilepsy Awareness?
I am an Epilepsy Advocate; I am a HOPE Mentor for the San Diego Epilepsy Foundation and educate public and private entities about epilepsy. Click here to read more!

"God Blessed Texas" Treasury

I am very proud of this Treasury featuring items from the Etsy Texas Crafters.  I hope Y'all agree.

Click here to read more!

My Treasury "Aware in Texas"

Here is a picture of the "Aware in Texas" Treasury featuring members of the Etsy Texas Crafters Team.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=92948

Click here to read more!

I Won!!

I would like you to pretend that I posted this a week ago. I have been so busy trying (not necessarily succeeding) to get everything done. I finally took pictures so that I could share my gifts with you. So please pretend that I posted this last week.

I would like to thank Etsy Stalkers and Meant 2b Cherished Jewelry as well as StellaPearl for making this blog post happen.


I am a person who never wins the door prize. I just don't. I entered 2 blog giveaways in October and promptly forgot about them. I knew I wasn't going to win. They fooled me. I won both giveaways.

I won on the Etsy Stalkers blog giveaway. You just have to see this chainmaille bracelet from Meant 2b Cherished Jewelry

http://www.m2bc.artfire.com/

I love it. there are so many colors in the bracelet that I can wear it with anything, even my T-shirt from the National Epilepsy Walk last year. You knew that I would mention Epilepsy in my blog.

I also won a gorgeous Chrysanthemum hairpin from StellaPearl http://www.etsy.com/shop/stellapearl


The box it came in was so cool. I took pictures of the whole opening the box process for you.

That was fun!!

Click here to read more!

Busy, Busy, Busy

This past week or two have been real busy for me. I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but November is Epilepsy Awareness Month. (LOL, that's all I have done, I mention it constantly). I have been promoting Epilepsy Awareness on my Facebook page and on Twitter. I have also been promoting the Epilepsy Awareness items in my shop.

I also had a goal for Treasuries this month. I was going to have a Treasury going at all times. I did real good until last night. I have been getting Treasuries within about 10 hours of my expiration. But last night I was sleeping on the job. Literally. The Treasury opened up at about 3 am on the West Coast. I didn't sleep much the night before and I stayed up until 11. Oops, I missed it. But there is always another Treasury and that is what I am doing right now. I am watching that number in the other IE window get smaller and smaller.

This Treasury will feature Awareness items from the Etsy team that I just joined. Etsy Texas Crafters. I have spent most of my computer time today at the team site setting up my page and reading all the info they have on their site.

I am also excited because I found the candles I have been looking for so that I can make one of my "Reflections" to sell in my shop. Look for it in a day or two, unless I get sidetracked.

Gotta Go, that number sure is getting close. Click here to read more!

"Be Aware" Treasury

I curated a treasury of Awareness items. Please visit the Treasury and click on each item and leave a comment. Show it some love and maybe we can make the Front Page. It was fun doing this so I may do it more often and with the different ribbon colors.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=92107

If you or someone you know has an item for the next Treasury please send me the link.

Click here to read more!

FFEST Treasury By Rose Works Jewelry

I have been featured in a treasury by Rose Works Jewelry.  Thanks for including me in this FFEST Treasury. Click here to read more!

Epilepsy Awareness Month: Epilepsy Facts

November is Epilepsy Awareness month. I want to do as much as I possibly can to help support and spread Awareness of this misunderstood and often misdiagnosed disorder. I will blog about Epilepsy this month to give you information that you probably don't know.



I will also have specials in my shop every day. I will be drastically reducing the price of one purple item for 24 hours. Check back every day to see when your favorite is on sale.

Click here to shop:



Epilepsy is sometimes referred to as a "storm in the brain" and that is a pretty good description. Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by episodes of greatly increased neural activity in the brain. During a seizure, a person may experience strange sensations and emotions, convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. Neurons may emit signals as many as 500 times a second during these episodes, much faster than the normal rate of about 80 times a second. that is over 6 times the normal rate. Basically, the electrical activity in your brain goes into maximum overdrive. That's why most people fall into a very deep sleep after a seizure. Their brain has just run a marathon.

Now for some facts and figures:

About 1 in 100 people in the US have experienced seizures or have been diagnosed with epilepsy. If you know more than 100 people chances are that you know someone with epilepsy.

There are more than 40 different kinds of seizures. Hundreds of different epilepsy syndromes (disorders characterized by a specific set of symptoms) have been identified.

Currently available treatments can control seizures at least some of the time in about 80% of persons with epilepsy. However, about 600,000 persons with epilepsy in the United States have intractable seizures, and another 400,000 receive inadequate relief from available treatments.

Here are links to a few good sites that I use regularly for information:

https://www.cureepilepsy.org/

http://www.talkaboutit.org/

http://www.epilepsyadvocate.com/

http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/ Click here to read more!

First Epilepsy Awareness Treasury

I curated a Treasury this morining:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=91489

Click here to read more!

Epilepsy Awareness Month

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month.  I have been working long, hard hours on purple items for Epilepsy Awareness for my store.  I listed several last night and there are still a lot of listings to finish.  I really love the Swarovski Crystal Snowflakes that I made into earrings.  I didn't realize how beautiful they would be in Violet.

I also listed the "Debbie" bracelet.  It is made using Czech Fire Polished beads.

I also listed this anklet.

I am increasing my donation percentage for November from 10% of the sale price to 15%.  I will be donating to Nevada Family Ties.  I really like their organization.  I will write more about them in a later blog.  I will be volunteering my time to help local families affected by epilepsy.  Exciting things are happening in Nevada.  We are trying to open a chapter of the Epilepsy foundation in Las Vegas, among other things.  Since I don't believe that I will be asked to speak professionally for Epilepsy Awareness, I need to do something to help.

Keep checking my blog this month because I will be having different sales all month.  I am also going to blog about epilepsy several times this month.  I have learned so much about epilepsy since I was diagnosed 4 years ago. 

Click here to read more!

Angelque has included my Rose Swarovski Crystal Earrings in a Treasury. 

"FFEST in Pink and Brown"  http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=90557

Thanks for the feature in such good company. 

And I know I have been remiss yet again in my blog posts.  I promise that I am trying to catch up on things.  I hope to be back on track next week. Click here to read more!

"Little Gems from FFEST"

I have been featured in another Treasury.  This one is called "Little Gems from FFEST" and Vitrine is the curator. Thanks Vitrene for featuring my Green and Gold Bracelet.

Click here to read more!

New Treasury "Think Pink"

I curated a Treasury late last night. I call it "Think Pink" in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Next month is Epilepsy Awareness Month. I wonder if I can do anything with the color Purple? LOL

Click here to read more!

Christmas Snowflakes Featured

I was pleasantly surprised today to find out that my earrings were featured in Angelque's Treasury, "All That Glittersis not Gold".   Here is the link:   http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=72040.

I was getting kind of depressed because I had not sold anything since August and because I haven't been featured in a Treasury lately.  So this morning I went thru my daily routine checking all the sites I need to check. 

I sold a pair of earrings last night and I was featured in a Treasury.  I think it is one of the prettiest I have seen in a while.  Follow the link as soon as you read this cuz they only last 2 days.  Then click on each picture to open new windows.  This helps the stats of the Treasury.  Maybe it will get to the front page. Click here to read more!

Christmas

I am working on Christmas items for my store. It is kinda difficult because this is my first Christmas with a store. I don't know what to make because I don't know what will sell. So I decided to make a little of everything.

I have made a few pair of earrings. I like the Christmas trees the best. I have also made snowflakes (they are the most fun), snowmen and some pretty red and green ones.

Please leave a comment with your favorite. You never know what can happen if you leave a comment. Good things may be in your future.

Click here to read more!

I am Learning New Things

I have been taking classes and learning new techniques. Right now I am getting into RAW or Right Angle Weave. Here are some pictures of my first projects that were made using the RAW technique. They are 3-D square pendants.
The next project that I made using the RAW technique is this Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Bracelet. Most of you know that I make alot of Awareness Jewelry to sell in my shop. I am donating 10% of the proceeds of this bracelet to Breast Cancer Awareness.



I am working on 2 more bracelets using the same embellishment that I did on the pink one. One is blue and the other is purple for Epilepsy Awareness next month.

Click here to read more!

To Fix or Not To Fix (My Blog)

I am getting tired of the same old blog template.  I found the template that I want to use.  I only have one problem.  Lately I have become leary of firsts.  This will be my first attempt, such as it is, at programming in over 10 years.

I have postponed it as long as I can.  The last test was one I learned in High School.  I had a teacher who taught us to give things the explosion test.  When asked if two things could be used in conjuntion with each other he would ask "What is the worst that could happen?  Is it going to explode?"  I have always liked that test although I don't think he meant it to be used the way I do.  

When I debate whether or not to do something (add an ingredient to a recipe or  mix two colors of beads) I ask what is the worst that can happen?  Will it explode?  If I change the template and it does not work, my computer will not explode.  I hope.  Right?

If you never hear from me again, I guess it failed the explosion test. Click here to read more!

Don't Brag - Listen to Mother - Knees Are Important

I had too many choices for a title and I couldn't pick one so you got the top three.
 I know I haven't posted in a while. I had knee surgery on Monday. It is amazing how much better I feel. Even though the pain level is still where it was before the surgery, it is easy to deal with. I know that if I feel like this 72 hours after surgery, then I am really going to feel great after a week.


I thought I would take the time to give you a little background on what happened because so many people have asked.


Never brag. My Mother tried to teach that to my brothers and i. She said that when you brag you will either 1) embarass the person you are bragging to because they don't have or can't do whatever you are bragging about or 2)embarass yourself because the other person has or can do more. She also mentioned something about repercussions, but I knew that would not apply to me.
In 1992 I was sitting in her living room with my boyfriend. Both of them had their fair share of broken bones and they were comparing war stories. Then I got stupid and did it and I wish I could take it back. I piped up with "I'm 32 years old and I have never broken a bone in my body". Famous last words. Less than 24 hours later as I tried to walk and talk at the same time, I slipped. My right foot slipped in water and I landed on the concrete on my left knee. I shattered the patella.

If there is one bone in your body that you do NOT want to break, it is the patella. The knee is a major weight bearing joint. You can only have so many knee replacement surgeries and they last a limited time. At 50 I am too young for the replacement surgery, although my Ortho says that it is what I need.


The surgery on Monday went well. i am already a little bit better off than before the surgery. My pain level is about the same bit it is consistant. Same places all the time. that is alot better than having it hurt so that I can't walk then 5 minutes later, nothing is wrong.


I will find out on the 13th what the Ortho has to say now that he has actually seen the inside of the joint. Wish me luck!

Click here to read more!

Restringing a Bracelet

I know it has been a while since I blogged but I do have a good excuse.  I am trying to get stuff caught up at home because of my knee surgery on Monday.  

One of the things that needed doing was mailing a bracelet to a friend.  When I make a new Awareness pattern, I usually give it a name and the first edition of that piece goes to the person I named it for. 

I have a friend named Debbie.  When my epilepsy was out of control she set me straight.  She insisted that I take my medication regularly.  She told me that taking it eradically was worse than not taking it at all.  She got me involved with the group of people that  enable me to speak publicly to help spread epilepsy awareness and end the stigma.  Do you get the feeling that Debbie is important to me?

I lost track of Debbie but not the organization that she was affiliated with.  Back in May I sent the bracelet to them in hopes that they would forward it to her.  I finally asked them to return it to me.  So I sat my little butt down and using the internet I found Debbie.  I got in contact with her and I now have her mailing address.

Wait, this was supposed to be about restringing a bracelet.  It is.  I kept thinking that I should restring the bracelet because I have improved my technique since I made the bracelet last year.  So here is the bracelet before I restrung it:

I don't know why it takes me so long to simply restring a bracelet.  Now for a look at the re-strung bracelet:

At first I was just going to replace the rock shaped beads.  Well then I had to replace something else, then something else.....

Have a good weekend!

Click here to read more!

Friday's Cat-Antics

For this cute story I need to give you some background from Outsmarting Myself vol 3.


My little girls may be a little spoiled, but just a little. They have always enjoyed their time outdoors. When we moved to a large apartment complex in Vegas the outdoor time went away. So being the nice Mommy that I am I make sure they have grass to chew on. Larry likes it because he is the one who has to clean up the upset tummies. And grass does help the tummy.

The grass is being grown in a larger container than normal. I have it in a rectangular planter that measures about 12 inches by 6 inches. The grass was growing well and then suddenly it stopped. It started laying down flat. I couldn't figure out what had gone wrong. Then one day as I was watering I looked closely. Can you see it in these pictures?

Evidently Smokie really loves laying in the grass. Even a small patch like this. She is careful only to lay near it while I am watching during the day. Now I put the grass on the counter every night.

Click here to read more!

I'm in a Blog Treasury

Thank You Roseworks Jewelry. 

My Snowflake Earrings are featured in the "FFEST in Green" Treasury on her blog. 

Here is a link to the Treasury:

http://roseworkstreasury.blogspot.com/2009/09/ffest-in-green.html 

Click here to read more!

Treasury Tuesday: FFEST "Diversity" Treasury

Happy Treasury Tuesday.

I curated a Treasury today that showcases the diversity of art available in the FFEST Team Stores. I didn't fully realize the variety until I started researching for this Treasury.

Click here to read more!

Friday's Cat-Antics

I love my little girls. They do some amazing things. They can also be cute, mischeiviuos, sweet and sometimes they are just downright funny.

My Spaz is, well, she's a Spaz. That is why we named her Spaz. Because she is spastic. But she always manages to put a smile on my face.

This morning Larry and I were on a teleconference call so the phone was on speakerphone. I have done this many times before and the call has never interested her. This morning though, you would have thought the phone call was being held for her benefit. She would sit, looking at the phone, then at the appropriate time, Spaz spoke her mind. She is like me, if she has something to say, you will hear it.

This was a business call and both Larry and I were attempting to give it the attention and importance it deserved. But I guess Spaz thought we needed to know that even important business calls should have their lighthearted side.

Thank-you Spaz for brightening my day. Click here to read more!